As rosters continue to take shape post-NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears figure to be finished making moves. Sure, they may add more depth at a couple of positions, but most of the roster decisions going forward will be in the form of cuts and releases.
And on paper, the Bears have a top-five NFL defense. But one writer is not high on the offense rebounding from lackluster play at the quarterback position. ESPN NFL writer Mike Clay predicts the Bears to finish with a 6-10 record and fourth-place finish in the NFC North.
Post-draft 2020 NFL team projections and playoff teams + 2021 draft order. #ClayProjections pic.twitter.com/UxFbUPAGy7
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) May 4, 2020
Clay’s projected 309 points for the offense would be fourth-fewest in the NFL and by far the worst in the NFC. If accurate, the Bears defense would be ranked 12th in the NFL, which would only seem plausible if they were on the field for 40 minutes a game.
Eight wins – and losses for that matter – makes more sense as the floor for the 2020 Bears. Nick Foles is a considerable upgrade over Chase Daniel, and he was acquired specifically if Mitch Trubisky fails to bounce back from a down 2019.
That said, if the Bears do finish with a 6-10 record, general manager Ryan Pace will be having an entirely different conversation in one year. But that’s also assuming he’s still in a position to have a say in who the quarterback should be.
Around the rest of the NFC North, the Vikings’ projected nine wins indicate a highly-competitive division with one or two wins having a significant influence on the final standings and playoff implications.
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